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It's Not TV: The Spectacular Rise, Revolution, and Future of HBO
“A read so riveting, it's not hard to imagine watching it unfold on Sunday nights.” —The Associated Press
“An incisive account that is more than a rosy victory lap for one of TV’s most influential channels.” —Eric Deggans, NPR’s “Books We Love”
“It’s Not TV proves to be a lively companion to all these shows.” —Andrew O’Hagan, The New York Review of Books
The inside story of HBO, the start-up company that reinvented television—by two veteran media reporters
HBO changed how stories could be told on TV. The Sopranos, Sex and the City, The Wire, Game of Thrones. The network’s meteoric rise heralded the second golden age of television with serialized shows that examined and reflected American anxieties, fears, and secret passions through complicated characters who were flawed and often unlikable. HBO’s own behind-the-scenes story is as complex, compelling, and innovative as the dramas the network created, driven by unorthodox executives who pushed the boundaries of what viewers understood as television at the turn of the century. Originally conceived by a small upstart group of entrepreneurs to bring Hollywood movies into living rooms across America, the scrappy network grew into one of the most influential and respected players in Hollywood. It’s Not TV is the deeply reported, definitive story of one of America’s most daring and popular cultural institutions, laying bare HBO’s growth, dominance, and vulnerability within the capricious media landscape over the past fifty years.
Through the visionary executives, showrunners, and producers who shaped HBO, seasoned journalists Gillette and Koblin bring to life a dynamic cast of characters who drove the company’s creative innovation in astonishing ways—outmaneuvering copycat competitors, taming Hollywood studios, transforming 1980s comedians and athletes like Chris Rock and Mike Tyson into superstars, and in the late 1990s and 2000s elevating the commercial-free, serialized drama to a revered art form. But in the midst of all its success, HBO was also defined by misbehaving executives, internal power struggles, and a few crucial miscalculations.
As data-driven models like Netflix have taken over streaming, HBO’s artful, instinctual, and humanistic approach to storytelling is in jeopardy. Taking readers into the boardrooms and behind the camera, It’s Not TV tells the surprising, fascinating story of HBO’s ascent, its groundbreaking influence on American business, technology, and popular culture, and its increasingly precarious position in the very market it created.
“An incisive account that is more than a rosy victory lap for one of TV’s most influential channels.” —Eric Deggans, NPR’s “Books We Love”
“It’s Not TV proves to be a lively companion to all these shows.” —Andrew O’Hagan, The New York Review of Books
The inside story of HBO, the start-up company that reinvented television—by two veteran media reporters
HBO changed how stories could be told on TV. The Sopranos, Sex and the City, The Wire, Game of Thrones. The network’s meteoric rise heralded the second golden age of television with serialized shows that examined and reflected American anxieties, fears, and secret passions through complicated characters who were flawed and often unlikable. HBO’s own behind-the-scenes story is as complex, compelling, and innovative as the dramas the network created, driven by unorthodox executives who pushed the boundaries of what viewers understood as television at the turn of the century. Originally conceived by a small upstart group of entrepreneurs to bring Hollywood movies into living rooms across America, the scrappy network grew into one of the most influential and respected players in Hollywood. It’s Not TV is the deeply reported, definitive story of one of America’s most daring and popular cultural institutions, laying bare HBO’s growth, dominance, and vulnerability within the capricious media landscape over the past fifty years.
Through the visionary executives, showrunners, and producers who shaped HBO, seasoned journalists Gillette and Koblin bring to life a dynamic cast of characters who drove the company’s creative innovation in astonishing ways—outmaneuvering copycat competitors, taming Hollywood studios, transforming 1980s comedians and athletes like Chris Rock and Mike Tyson into superstars, and in the late 1990s and 2000s elevating the commercial-free, serialized drama to a revered art form. But in the midst of all its success, HBO was also defined by misbehaving executives, internal power struggles, and a few crucial miscalculations.
As data-driven models like Netflix have taken over streaming, HBO’s artful, instinctual, and humanistic approach to storytelling is in jeopardy. Taking readers into the boardrooms and behind the camera, It’s Not TV tells the surprising, fascinating story of HBO’s ascent, its groundbreaking influence on American business, technology, and popular culture, and its increasingly precarious position in the very market it created.
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First published November 1, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 118 reviews
November 12, 2022
this fascinating look into the making of hbo, it’s not tv: the spectacular rise, revolution, and future of hbo details how the network set a precedent for what television could and should be, starting with their ever popular scripted originals sex and the city, the sopranos, and six feet under in the late ‘90s and early ‘00s, continuing on through how they became the network giant and streaming service many envy today.
as an avid hbo watcher, and somebody who will begin one of their shows either on the network or their streaming service based on the brand they have built alone, never-mind the cast or plot, it was beyond interesting to discover how the network rose to become what it is today. my only complaint is that i do wish that there had been more of an exploration of the ongoings and behind-the-scenes of their shows. with the book already spanning just over 400 pages, i understand that this is more than likely the reason for minimal detail, and so it did not harm my reading experience at all, i still thoroughly enjoyed this.
would recommend it to anybody who loves hbo, watches hbo, loves television, and/or is fascinated by the behind-the-scenes of it all. such a good read.
as an avid hbo watcher, and somebody who will begin one of their shows either on the network or their streaming service based on the brand they have built alone, never-mind the cast or plot, it was beyond interesting to discover how the network rose to become what it is today. my only complaint is that i do wish that there had been more of an exploration of the ongoings and behind-the-scenes of their shows. with the book already spanning just over 400 pages, i understand that this is more than likely the reason for minimal detail, and so it did not harm my reading experience at all, i still thoroughly enjoyed this.
would recommend it to anybody who loves hbo, watches hbo, loves television, and/or is fascinated by the behind-the-scenes of it all. such a good read.
August 21, 2023
I really enjoyed this one about HBO, it’s ups and downs and behind the scenes look at some of the shows I have loved over the years and some that are still on my list to watch. It was also fascinating to learn how some shows got their start, how some went to other networks, the competition with Netflix, and how the network made the decisions it did (I still don’t understand the MAX change, smh).
I listened to this via audio and am glad I did, these kind of books are easier for me listened to rather than read via physical copy. If you are a fan or grew up / still watch HBO then I think you will find this one interesting and I definitely recommend it.
Thank you to PRH Audio for the ALC to review.
I listened to this via audio and am glad I did, these kind of books are easier for me listened to rather than read via physical copy. If you are a fan or grew up / still watch HBO then I think you will find this one interesting and I definitely recommend it.
Thank you to PRH Audio for the ALC to review.
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August 4, 2025HBO (plus, max, whatnot) is a definitely worth it streaming service, & the only I’ve consistently had because the quality plus stories plus all the films (including documentaries) is beyond incredible… prior to that, would covet the dvd box sets I was gifted / borrowed / friends would even record on VHS shows like Carnivale & take notes to dive into it… absolutely fascinating to learn more about how it came to be & how it’s all developed, plus definitely things they missed out on (like Weiner’s Mad Men, which they didn’t even bother to look at tho he was a top writer on The Sopranos!!) & more for anyone interested to discover!!
The Rehearsal is my current favorite, & definitely recommend!
also, appreciate the insight & transparency (well, now… not then, even if the SECOND time someone high up was charged etc with nearly killing two women by strangulation from his temper) on how the culture was so awful to women there & the conversation about how some shows run by men have showed extreme violence to women…
definitely recommend. again, not a “tv person” usually but it’s not tv… ;)
The Rehearsal is my current favorite, & definitely recommend!
also, appreciate the insight & transparency (well, now… not then, even if the SECOND time someone high up was charged etc with nearly killing two women by strangulation from his temper) on how the culture was so awful to women there & the conversation about how some shows run by men have showed extreme violence to women…
definitely recommend. again, not a “tv person” usually but it’s not tv… ;)
September 21, 2022
I received this as an eGalley from NetGalley.
Man, I bet the author of this book wishes that the HBOMAX kerfuffle would have happened a smidge earlier so they could have included it at the end of the book.
Besides I liked learning about the development of the network and having some sort of explanation for all of the nonsense that was airing on the network in the mid-1980s.
Man, I bet the author of this book wishes that the HBOMAX kerfuffle would have happened a smidge earlier so they could have included it at the end of the book.
Besides I liked learning about the development of the network and having some sort of explanation for all of the nonsense that was airing on the network in the mid-1980s.
April 6, 2023
Okay this book got returned while I had two chapters left and therefore I had to wait like two weeks to check it out again.
The biggest emotion I had when reading this book was "wow I didn't know that was an HBO show".
I'm not a subscriber to hbo, I use my roommates like every other civilized person. i did enjoy listening to this as the last of us was coming out and seeing in real time how true all of their reporting was though. It is indeed about the characters, the weekly release model, and the artistic choices that make a show good.
also i am still absolutely boggled by the guy choking out his co worker and then getting zero jail time for that, like not surprised (horrible) but once again proving that there is so much corruption and oversight in the office workplace that leads to harassments and puts women in danger.
also fucking CACKLING at "the traumatic arts" - send that to every BFA program in the country.
The biggest emotion I had when reading this book was "wow I didn't know that was an HBO show".
I'm not a subscriber to hbo, I use my roommates like every other civilized person. i did enjoy listening to this as the last of us was coming out and seeing in real time how true all of their reporting was though. It is indeed about the characters, the weekly release model, and the artistic choices that make a show good.
also i am still absolutely boggled by the guy choking out his co worker and then getting zero jail time for that, like not surprised (horrible) but once again proving that there is so much corruption and oversight in the office workplace that leads to harassments and puts women in danger.
also fucking CACKLING at "the traumatic arts" - send that to every BFA program in the country.
June 21, 2024
I devoured this. An excellent history of HBO, the moments that shaped popular culture, misogyny/violence, the era of prestige TV, depiction of women over the decades, behind-the-scene insights, and the future of HBO. This book also made me realize that I have watched 85% of the HBO catalog. 🥲🥹
April 30, 2023
I never grew up watching HBO and I'm not a huge TV person so this book was quite boring. Also makes me dislike HBO because of all the harassment of women in the workforce
September 30, 2023
I am an HBO buff so consider this a biased review. Hell, in my country HBO isn’t even available, reasons which are detailed in the book. But I still am a stickler for everything that HBO makes from the popular epics that everyone watches to sleeper hits like The Wire and Six Feet Under.
It was incredibly satisfying to see what goes behind making an HBO show. The philosophy and culture that were in place when HBO revolutionised TV with shows like The Sopranos , The Wire. I get why HBO shows are just more “edgier”. I get why all my favourite hbo shows had a certain feel, edginess and this quality of being so unlike every other tv show, this was a deliberate strategy by the execs in HBO.
This is a well written book that goes into quite a lot of detail about lesser known execs in Hollywood who shaped TV history. About HBO’s philosophy towards creative talent and why HBO shows are unique unlike algorithmic drivel from NTFLX. One minor pet peeve, there are a lot of spoilers in this book so if you haven’t watched the shows mentioned in this book its best you stay away.
It was incredibly satisfying to see what goes behind making an HBO show. The philosophy and culture that were in place when HBO revolutionised TV with shows like The Sopranos , The Wire. I get why HBO shows are just more “edgier”. I get why all my favourite hbo shows had a certain feel, edginess and this quality of being so unlike every other tv show, this was a deliberate strategy by the execs in HBO.
This is a well written book that goes into quite a lot of detail about lesser known execs in Hollywood who shaped TV history. About HBO’s philosophy towards creative talent and why HBO shows are unique unlike algorithmic drivel from NTFLX. One minor pet peeve, there are a lot of spoilers in this book so if you haven’t watched the shows mentioned in this book its best you stay away.
March 20, 2023
I really enjoyed this history of HBO. Great story telling and fascinating to get a look behind the silver screen. I wouldn’t recommend it though unless you really love TV. A lot of the plot cantered around well known shows so without having seen the shows, it might not be as interesting.
It was so fun listening to this while in New York as lots of the shows and plot point happened in the Big Apple.
Listened on audible.
It was so fun listening to this while in New York as lots of the shows and plot point happened in the Big Apple.
Listened on audible.
January 21, 2023
This is well-reported and concise, but at the end of the day, it's just a history of HBO. At times, I was like "do I really care about HBO this much." If it wasn't so well written I probably would've stopped reading it. I also preferred the latter half because the content was just inherently more interesting to me - competing with Netflix, GOT, Insecure, elevating the commercial-free, serialized drama to an art form, etc.
HBO consistently pushed innovation in TV and adapted as the industry changed. There are some fascinating executives and boardroom anecdotes in here. Overall, it's a good intersection of business, tech, and entertainment, and it weirdly made me nostalgic. HBO is in an increasingly precarious position in the premium market it created. Everything is trending toward metrics over the artful, instinctual, and humanistic approach to storytelling. Also, felt like it stopped too soon. The time warner merger and the end of HBO Max is a BFD.
Anyway, recommend it if you work in or are interested in entertainment!
HBO consistently pushed innovation in TV and adapted as the industry changed. There are some fascinating executives and boardroom anecdotes in here. Overall, it's a good intersection of business, tech, and entertainment, and it weirdly made me nostalgic. HBO is in an increasingly precarious position in the premium market it created. Everything is trending toward metrics over the artful, instinctual, and humanistic approach to storytelling. Also, felt like it stopped too soon. The time warner merger and the end of HBO Max is a BFD.
Anyway, recommend it if you work in or are interested in entertainment!
March 14, 2023
HBO was the most interesting place for filmed narratives for about a decade and a half. They also made a ton of trash, and the reasons why both things are true are fully outlined here. Gillette maybe takes a few too many pains to highlight how HBO sheltered a known batterer for years, especially since that same batterer (Chris Albrecht) immediately got another job at Starz after he beat up another woman and HBO finally fired him. This is why we call something a systemic issue: if everyone in the industry at the time is basically ok with Albrecht's behavior, then what he did doesn't tell us something unique about HBO's boys club and its relationship with the mostly male auteurs who made some of its best material.
Anyone, the last part documenting how both HBO and Netflix have become blandified by streaming is depressing. Technology will change again, someone like HBO will rise again, everyone will copy them eventually, and things will get bland again.
Anyone, the last part documenting how both HBO and Netflix have become blandified by streaming is depressing. Technology will change again, someone like HBO will rise again, everyone will copy them eventually, and things will get bland again.
May 12, 2023
Boring as hell
September 9, 2023
I’ll miss listening to a chapter of this audiobook every day as part of my morning routine! I loved the structure - it perfectly mixes the public facing timeline of HBO with informal oral history, coverage of scandals, and industry gossip. There’s also lots of behind the scenes tidbits on how top shows were selected, developed, and perceived on release. It’s all couched with engaging context on how shows and company norms fit into broader pop culture and entertainment trends. I got to know the names, personalities, and motivations of the top executives, rival companies, and show runners naturally - it all came alive with the writing.
A sign of how effective the writing is: bluffs happen, and the context of the time is built up so well that I would react with a gasp like I’m actually at the company. They talk about the switch from “the shrug” approach to using data only and I’m concerned. They spend a while on how the show Entourage’s reputation went from cool to creepy, discuss the culture criticism wave around it, and then a chapter later the blundering new exec who doesn’t fit in starts bragging about loving Entourage. Uh oh!
A sign of how effective the writing is: bluffs happen, and the context of the time is built up so well that I would react with a gasp like I’m actually at the company. They talk about the switch from “the shrug” approach to using data only and I’m concerned. They spend a while on how the show Entourage’s reputation went from cool to creepy, discuss the culture criticism wave around it, and then a chapter later the blundering new exec who doesn’t fit in starts bragging about loving Entourage. Uh oh!
May 17, 2025
look at me reading a non-fiction!!!
fascinated by hbo and the legacy it has in tv, but this only gave me half of what i wanted. it was skewed towards the executives rather than the creatives. i do think it tried to maintain a balance between them but they didn't give enough real-life examples of creatives. i also really wish they'd looked a bit more at the specific shows but maybe that's asking for too much of an oral history rather than a non-fiction book about a network.
what is unfortunately not surprising is the amount of misbehaviour tolerated at an organisation like this. some crazy men being crazy and then just....carrying on being crazy somewhere else. black marks on women's names, the men soaring to new heights above it all with a dirty past of strangling multiple women? par for the course.
fascinated by hbo and the legacy it has in tv, but this only gave me half of what i wanted. it was skewed towards the executives rather than the creatives. i do think it tried to maintain a balance between them but they didn't give enough real-life examples of creatives. i also really wish they'd looked a bit more at the specific shows but maybe that's asking for too much of an oral history rather than a non-fiction book about a network.
what is unfortunately not surprising is the amount of misbehaviour tolerated at an organisation like this. some crazy men being crazy and then just....carrying on being crazy somewhere else. black marks on women's names, the men soaring to new heights above it all with a dirty past of strangling multiple women? par for the course.
June 4, 2023
Sex and the City, The Sopranos, The Wire, Girls, Game of Thrones, Euphoria, Insecure, Succession… it’s kind of astounding the number of mega hits HBO has had over the 25 years. This book was a fascinating look into the corporate history and culture, and placed these shows (and their creators) within that larger context. Goes into the messy AOL / Time Warner acquisition, then (more recently) the AT&T / Time Warner acquisition, and finally the spinoff to Discover. Good timing (as Succession has come to a captivating finale) to be reading something in the world of the cable wars and then the streaming wars.
September 10, 2025
I enjoyed this history of HBO - starting with boxing, then buying rights to other movies, then creating and producing their own shows, constant pivots - competing with Netflix, streaming content, etc. Loved the insider info and trip down memory lane. When dominating Sunday nights isn't enough, they need to figure out how to get more hours per day and per week. Wild to learn that Netflix pays some comics $20m for a standup special.
Made me want to go rewatch some of these shows.
Narration was done well and did not annoy or detract.
Made me want to go rewatch some of these shows.
Narration was done well and did not annoy or detract.
August 28, 2023
As if the cover-up of a violent assault against a female exec wasn’t bad enough, reading the last chapters introducing David Zaslav knowing what’s to come in the industry…I think my dreams of pivoting to entertainment have fully died on the vine 🫠.
December 3, 2023
if you’re a fan of white lotus, succession, game of thrones, etc i think this is an important read — more business-centric than i thought it would be, but also fascinating because i had no idea how much of a boys club this company was. now i want to go read about Netflix
May 30, 2025
When David Zaslav popped up in the last chapter I audibly went “oh no”
February 8, 2023
Very engaging read.
You would end up watching the shows mentioned in the book and truly appreciate what went behind the scenes.
You would end up watching the shows mentioned in the book and truly appreciate what went behind the scenes.
January 18, 2024
LOVED THIS. Such a fascinating look at a company that has had so many ups and downs (ugh…men). I especially liked the talk of developing various shows!
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August 8, 2023John Stankey nearly ran the best premium (not) TV channel into the ground and David Zaslav might just finish the job. I hate these billionaires! I love HBO!!!!
July 6, 2023
I started to read this with bated breath, as I'm curious about the period covered and wanted to learn more.
I was looking for a probing insight of the origins and evolution of HBO as a company, as well as insights into specific HBO programs that grew on me over the years. Some of that is there — useful, readable, background on The Sopranos, for ex. — but it's what's missing that bothers me: Little mention of Deadwood and Carnivale, and I'm not sure Westworld rates more than a word or two.
Game of Thrones is given short shrift, given its profile and prominence in HBO's more recent period.
And yet some of the programs that ARE mentioned — Vinyl, The Deuce, Silicon Valley, endless sex comedies — get more attention than they deserve IMO.
The writer pays an inordinate amount of attention to critics' reviews; critics are quoted verbatim and endlessly, and after a while I found that kind of distracting.
Old-fashioned audience word-of-mouth counts more, it seems to me, especially in this age of social media.
The book's account of machinations in the boardroom and corporate offices are interesting, on the other hand, and often compelling. I wanted more of that.
It's hard to believe how many of these big companies — AOL, AT&T, Discovery+, the tech bros, etc. — seem to be run by clown cars.
The writer doesn't flinch from the sex scandals and misogyny inside HBO's executive suites, and that's to the good.
I was surprised by the abrupt ending, though: It seems to me the book doesn't end so much as get cut off in midair, as though it suddenly runs out of steam.
In the end, that's what bothered me most, I think.
What's happening right now, with Netflix, Apple and the other streamers, is bigger than anything in the book, it seems to me.
And because what you read last is what you tend to remember most — i.e. how the story ends — that's why I can't give this more than a lukewarm review.
I was expecting more depth and a tighter focus, and in the end I was underwhelmed.
I was looking for a probing insight of the origins and evolution of HBO as a company, as well as insights into specific HBO programs that grew on me over the years. Some of that is there — useful, readable, background on The Sopranos, for ex. — but it's what's missing that bothers me: Little mention of Deadwood and Carnivale, and I'm not sure Westworld rates more than a word or two.
Game of Thrones is given short shrift, given its profile and prominence in HBO's more recent period.
And yet some of the programs that ARE mentioned — Vinyl, The Deuce, Silicon Valley, endless sex comedies — get more attention than they deserve IMO.
The writer pays an inordinate amount of attention to critics' reviews; critics are quoted verbatim and endlessly, and after a while I found that kind of distracting.
Old-fashioned audience word-of-mouth counts more, it seems to me, especially in this age of social media.
The book's account of machinations in the boardroom and corporate offices are interesting, on the other hand, and often compelling. I wanted more of that.
It's hard to believe how many of these big companies — AOL, AT&T, Discovery+, the tech bros, etc. — seem to be run by clown cars.
The writer doesn't flinch from the sex scandals and misogyny inside HBO's executive suites, and that's to the good.
I was surprised by the abrupt ending, though: It seems to me the book doesn't end so much as get cut off in midair, as though it suddenly runs out of steam.
In the end, that's what bothered me most, I think.
What's happening right now, with Netflix, Apple and the other streamers, is bigger than anything in the book, it seems to me.
And because what you read last is what you tend to remember most — i.e. how the story ends — that's why I can't give this more than a lukewarm review.
I was expecting more depth and a tighter focus, and in the end I was underwhelmed.
May 29, 2023
Such an incredibly appropriate time to read this one, what with Succession coming to an end and HBO once again making baffling/indecipherable decisions regarding their streaming service (It's Not TV only further convinces me that dropping HBO from the name is a batshit decision. Put me in charge, I think I could handle it).
Anyway - this is a fantastic read. Definitely not my regular kind of reading material, but super fascinating for those who are aware of HBO's impressive legacy - The Sopranos, Six Feet Under, Succession, True Blood, Big Love, and on and on and on. Business speak usually goes way over my head but the writing here is definitely accessible for those of us not in the know.
Anyway - this is a fantastic read. Definitely not my regular kind of reading material, but super fascinating for those who are aware of HBO's impressive legacy - The Sopranos, Six Feet Under, Succession, True Blood, Big Love, and on and on and on. Business speak usually goes way over my head but the writing here is definitely accessible for those of us not in the know.
December 31, 2023
Interesting history of how HBO was created and how it has evolved into its present iteration. Appreciated the insight into the artistic vision and the voice it gave writers, but at times felt more like a gossip column.
October 21, 2022
My thanks to both NetGalley and the publisher Penguin Group Viking for an advanced copy of this book on the channel that changed television and helped create the way people process their media choices today.
Before getting cable television, watching television could be a chore in that sometimes the antenna was perfect to get the show you wanted, sometimes you had to adjust it, sometimes a little brother had to stand there holding the rabbit ears until the show, or a little brother's legs or patience gave out. I remember the day we got cable, the stringing of wires, drilling holes, more wires, a good picture and an illegal cable box so we got all the channels imaginable. From the beginning HBO was my jam. From Cinemax I could learn about cult and European films, and softcore. Showtime was stodgy seeming, though I think they had Star Trek. HBO had movies that I wanted to see, with that big intro music which made it seem important. It's Not TV: The Spectacular Rise, Revolution, and Future of HBO by Felix Gillette and John Koblin captures all this feeling, the amazement of what could be, the tawdriness of working for and some of the presentations and the numerous near deaths the company has experienced.
HBO began as a dream to get movies, first run movies to the people, who would pay for the privilege. This went against many people who thought why would people pay for television when the networks ABC, NBC, CBS and independent channels were free. Starting in 1972 HBO began to offer "premium channels" through the burgeoning cable networks, broadcasting their signal over radar dishes all over America. Besides getting people to pay for TV their biggest problem was people stealing the signal through backyard radar dishes. Stealing cable was always a problem. Soon business began to grown, along with their own movies, specials and boxing. Lots of boxing, with a lot of specials and shows on sex and other spicy matters. AS the company grew there were many growing pains, a locker room work place, bad executives, bad mergers, corporate belt tightening at inopportune times. However creatively the channel soared, airing and supporting some of the most popular shows in television history.
A fascinating and very full account of this company which started with just a channel and an idea, made enemies in Hollywood early and still survived. Will it continue to is a question that comes up quite a few times, but the company has been down before. This is a true warts and all story with a lot of information on bad decisions and executives, with divergent sources and facts. Not gossipy, just honest. In many areas it sounded like a horrible place to be, especially for women, and again this is all touched on. The book is more of a business profile, but does examine the creative end, why certain shows were chosen to air, why some big ones were not, or were cut early. Plus there are many profiles of some of the big names, and stars who have graced HBO over the many years.
Recommended for both business and entertainment fans. The information will entertain both sides of the brain, and the history is very interesting to watch and learn how the company grew, plus some of the stupid ideas that made sense, and did not wreck the company. Readers who like books on the media will find the many merger sections very informative. A good book about a channel that used to bring me a tremendous amount of entertainment as a kid.
Before getting cable television, watching television could be a chore in that sometimes the antenna was perfect to get the show you wanted, sometimes you had to adjust it, sometimes a little brother had to stand there holding the rabbit ears until the show, or a little brother's legs or patience gave out. I remember the day we got cable, the stringing of wires, drilling holes, more wires, a good picture and an illegal cable box so we got all the channels imaginable. From the beginning HBO was my jam. From Cinemax I could learn about cult and European films, and softcore. Showtime was stodgy seeming, though I think they had Star Trek. HBO had movies that I wanted to see, with that big intro music which made it seem important. It's Not TV: The Spectacular Rise, Revolution, and Future of HBO by Felix Gillette and John Koblin captures all this feeling, the amazement of what could be, the tawdriness of working for and some of the presentations and the numerous near deaths the company has experienced.
HBO began as a dream to get movies, first run movies to the people, who would pay for the privilege. This went against many people who thought why would people pay for television when the networks ABC, NBC, CBS and independent channels were free. Starting in 1972 HBO began to offer "premium channels" through the burgeoning cable networks, broadcasting their signal over radar dishes all over America. Besides getting people to pay for TV their biggest problem was people stealing the signal through backyard radar dishes. Stealing cable was always a problem. Soon business began to grown, along with their own movies, specials and boxing. Lots of boxing, with a lot of specials and shows on sex and other spicy matters. AS the company grew there were many growing pains, a locker room work place, bad executives, bad mergers, corporate belt tightening at inopportune times. However creatively the channel soared, airing and supporting some of the most popular shows in television history.
A fascinating and very full account of this company which started with just a channel and an idea, made enemies in Hollywood early and still survived. Will it continue to is a question that comes up quite a few times, but the company has been down before. This is a true warts and all story with a lot of information on bad decisions and executives, with divergent sources and facts. Not gossipy, just honest. In many areas it sounded like a horrible place to be, especially for women, and again this is all touched on. The book is more of a business profile, but does examine the creative end, why certain shows were chosen to air, why some big ones were not, or were cut early. Plus there are many profiles of some of the big names, and stars who have graced HBO over the many years.
Recommended for both business and entertainment fans. The information will entertain both sides of the brain, and the history is very interesting to watch and learn how the company grew, plus some of the stupid ideas that made sense, and did not wreck the company. Readers who like books on the media will find the many merger sections very informative. A good book about a channel that used to bring me a tremendous amount of entertainment as a kid.
April 7, 2023
At one time, HBO was seen as the cutting edge of entertainment in the home. The book “It’s Not TV: The Spectacular Rise, Revolution and Future of HBO” chronicles the history of the cable TV channel, including its programming, technology challenges, and corporate takeovers.
HBO launched when most of us only had a handful of channels to choose from. But it eventually became mainstream and popular. Authors Felix Gillette and John Koblin tell us that it premiered many award-winning series and became one of the most attractive elements of cable TV. But the entertainment world changed. It faced many new competitors, many of who occupied the same space on cable, but as technology evolved, it saw new competitors who depositioned HBO and saw greater success. That included Netflix, which changed how we access the programs and movies we enjoy.
Among the main things we learned in this book:
Before HBO was launched on November 8, 1972, its prototype name was the “Green Channel .”It launched as HBO with 375 test subscribers in Wilkes=Barre, Pennsylvania, with a lineup of movies and a New York Rangers game. It joined the satellite world in 1974, which propelled its growth.
HBO had to convince cable operators to include them among their offerings. They promised that the cable operators could keep about half the subscription fee as a new revenue source.
As new competitor channels launched, HBO launched its second service called Cin
emax. “While HBO offered mainstream Hollywood movies, Cinemax loaded up on foreign films, karate flicks, grind-house movies, soft-core erotica, and spaghetti westerns. HBO packaged the services together at a discount, hoping to box out Showtime and the rest.”
Eventually, the cable industry faced new competition when Director TV launched a satellite-delivered service ‘to millions of paying subscribers in the United States, Latin America, and the Caribbean. It began to drive loads of additional customers into the laps of HBO. In 1994, HBO and Cinemax had added 2.3 million subscribers, the best gain since the early 1980s, while generating a hefty $257 million of profits on revenue of $1.5 billion. “
The book also focuses on some of HBO’s programming successes and challenges. “HBO had a difficult decision to make on The Sopranos. After David Chase finished the pilot episode, HBO set up a test screening with an audience chosen to satisfy certain demographic criteria. When the results came back, HBO executives faced a dilemma. The pilot had scored poorly, suggesting they ought to cancel the project. For months, HBO dithered. There were plenty of reasons not to go forward with The Sopranos. It would cost a fortune to make and market. Chase’s cast featured a bunch of largely unknown actors. At over $2 million per episode, The Sopranos was HBO’s most expensive show yet. But splurging on original series, as opposed to original movies, was well worth it, the network’s executives explained to reporters, because the serialized format helped HBO pull in and retain subscribers much better than one-off events.”
“In late 2008, (executives) were weighing whether to order a pilot of Game of Thrones, a fantasy series based on the dragon-laden novels by George R. R. Martin. There were several obstacles. The show would be a significant investment for the network. Fantasy shows are the most expensive of any genre, and movies like Lord of the Rings set a high bar. Audiences expected lavish special effects. HBO would shell out some $10 million, more than double what most networks paid for a drama series. With the network’s bountiful support, the showrunners started in late 2009, shooting elaborate scenes in exotic locations stretching from Northern Ireland to Morocco. But when the pilot came in, it was terrible—a convoluted, off-putting mess. The costumes looked funny. The hair and makeup looked worse. The relationships between characters were confusing. “
Anyone who has enjoyed programs on HBO will find this retrospective very interesting.
HBO launched when most of us only had a handful of channels to choose from. But it eventually became mainstream and popular. Authors Felix Gillette and John Koblin tell us that it premiered many award-winning series and became one of the most attractive elements of cable TV. But the entertainment world changed. It faced many new competitors, many of who occupied the same space on cable, but as technology evolved, it saw new competitors who depositioned HBO and saw greater success. That included Netflix, which changed how we access the programs and movies we enjoy.
Among the main things we learned in this book:
Before HBO was launched on November 8, 1972, its prototype name was the “Green Channel .”It launched as HBO with 375 test subscribers in Wilkes=Barre, Pennsylvania, with a lineup of movies and a New York Rangers game. It joined the satellite world in 1974, which propelled its growth.
HBO had to convince cable operators to include them among their offerings. They promised that the cable operators could keep about half the subscription fee as a new revenue source.
As new competitor channels launched, HBO launched its second service called Cin
emax. “While HBO offered mainstream Hollywood movies, Cinemax loaded up on foreign films, karate flicks, grind-house movies, soft-core erotica, and spaghetti westerns. HBO packaged the services together at a discount, hoping to box out Showtime and the rest.”
Eventually, the cable industry faced new competition when Director TV launched a satellite-delivered service ‘to millions of paying subscribers in the United States, Latin America, and the Caribbean. It began to drive loads of additional customers into the laps of HBO. In 1994, HBO and Cinemax had added 2.3 million subscribers, the best gain since the early 1980s, while generating a hefty $257 million of profits on revenue of $1.5 billion. “
The book also focuses on some of HBO’s programming successes and challenges. “HBO had a difficult decision to make on The Sopranos. After David Chase finished the pilot episode, HBO set up a test screening with an audience chosen to satisfy certain demographic criteria. When the results came back, HBO executives faced a dilemma. The pilot had scored poorly, suggesting they ought to cancel the project. For months, HBO dithered. There were plenty of reasons not to go forward with The Sopranos. It would cost a fortune to make and market. Chase’s cast featured a bunch of largely unknown actors. At over $2 million per episode, The Sopranos was HBO’s most expensive show yet. But splurging on original series, as opposed to original movies, was well worth it, the network’s executives explained to reporters, because the serialized format helped HBO pull in and retain subscribers much better than one-off events.”
“In late 2008, (executives) were weighing whether to order a pilot of Game of Thrones, a fantasy series based on the dragon-laden novels by George R. R. Martin. There were several obstacles. The show would be a significant investment for the network. Fantasy shows are the most expensive of any genre, and movies like Lord of the Rings set a high bar. Audiences expected lavish special effects. HBO would shell out some $10 million, more than double what most networks paid for a drama series. With the network’s bountiful support, the showrunners started in late 2009, shooting elaborate scenes in exotic locations stretching from Northern Ireland to Morocco. But when the pilot came in, it was terrible—a convoluted, off-putting mess. The costumes looked funny. The hair and makeup looked worse. The relationships between characters were confusing. “
Anyone who has enjoyed programs on HBO will find this retrospective very interesting.
February 8, 2023
From scrappy underdogs to champions of prestige TV in the Golden Era, HBO has offered edgy, lascivious and original content across the last 50 years.
There is a particular community experience of shows like 'White Lotus', 'Sopranos', and 'Game of Thrones'. Admist the social media era, these shows found rabid audiences whose memes and message forums reflected the shows cultural cachet. HBO in particular has maintained a home for artistic directors and content that is not within the sanctified mainstream format.
Gillette and Koblin turn the lens toward the firm itself. The history of technological innovations, wily executives , cultural event making , and the contending with the impulsive and capricious audience, is detailed here. Only with admiration can you describe the ascent of boxing , stand up comedies, documentaries and crime dramas that would never find a home without HBO.
If the book's strength is its inward meditations, its weakness is the same. Topics very critical to the public such as platform responsibility, for content and data/security integrity are largely absent. There are some discussions about wider cultural movements for representation and #Metoo reckonings , but the level of depth is limited. I also think the book could plumb the innovations of digitization , social media and streaming services. There is a technology lens that is sorely missing .
Overall a very fun read. A victory lap for a platform that over 50 years has challenged the notion of adult entertainment. For anyone keeping their eye on important television series today, there is every reason to believe HBO is just getting started.
There is a particular community experience of shows like 'White Lotus', 'Sopranos', and 'Game of Thrones'. Admist the social media era, these shows found rabid audiences whose memes and message forums reflected the shows cultural cachet. HBO in particular has maintained a home for artistic directors and content that is not within the sanctified mainstream format.
Gillette and Koblin turn the lens toward the firm itself. The history of technological innovations, wily executives , cultural event making , and the contending with the impulsive and capricious audience, is detailed here. Only with admiration can you describe the ascent of boxing , stand up comedies, documentaries and crime dramas that would never find a home without HBO.
If the book's strength is its inward meditations, its weakness is the same. Topics very critical to the public such as platform responsibility, for content and data/security integrity are largely absent. There are some discussions about wider cultural movements for representation and #Metoo reckonings , but the level of depth is limited. I also think the book could plumb the innovations of digitization , social media and streaming services. There is a technology lens that is sorely missing .
Overall a very fun read. A victory lap for a platform that over 50 years has challenged the notion of adult entertainment. For anyone keeping their eye on important television series today, there is every reason to believe HBO is just getting started.
September 12, 2023
There's something unavoidably disappointing about a detailed account of a subject whose evolution is so up-to-the-minute: HBO was very much in the headlines this year (and last year) after the Warner Bross Discovery merger. Hell, in the very next month after I finished this book—on May 23—HBO Max was rebranded as "Max." It's Not TV was published in May 2022, which means that, although it covers every similarly momentous change in HBO's history up to that point, none of the seismic shifts you might expect such a book to cover from 2022 are included. That's not to say I was inherently disappointed in this book, mind you: I want to be clear. I really enjoyed reading it, and getting a definitively detailed background into what I still consider the premium channel / streamer with the highest-quality content on offer, something I have felt for a long time. Anyone with an interest in such things, especially given its own shortsighted missteps in its long history, should read it and will enjoy it. It just also comes with the caveat that any book about something still so actively changing and evolving is by definition going to feel incomplete. The more time goes by, the less up to date this book will feel. So read it now! (Even though by the time you read this very blurb about it, it will be over a year old.)
June 8, 2023
3.5 stars rounded up!
The first 25% was RIVETING! The voice of this nonfiction book was so striking and full of personality, which is somewhat rare for what is at its core a history book. I loved the way the author painted HBO execs and leaders as real (and bizarrely wacky) characters.
After a while, though, the author relied on our feelings about the HBO series/movies in order to keep readers engaged. I didn't watch Succession, White Lotus, the Wire, Deadwood, Curb Your Enthusiasm, etc... So I wasn't inherently excited to know how they came about or why they were successful. I feel like the author could've done more work to invite a wide swath of readers to enjoy this book. Alternatively, I've considered that this just isn't that book/that it's not written exactly for me. And by the end of the book, I decided that's pretty okay if that's the kind of history-of-HBO story you want to write!
The conclusion really brings home some systematic issues in the TV/streaming world and I've gotta say I learned a lot (well beyond interesting tidbits), so I bumped this back up to 4 stars in the end! Would recommend to TV afficionados.
The first 25% was RIVETING! The voice of this nonfiction book was so striking and full of personality, which is somewhat rare for what is at its core a history book. I loved the way the author painted HBO execs and leaders as real (and bizarrely wacky) characters.
After a while, though, the author relied on our feelings about the HBO series/movies in order to keep readers engaged. I didn't watch Succession, White Lotus, the Wire, Deadwood, Curb Your Enthusiasm, etc... So I wasn't inherently excited to know how they came about or why they were successful. I feel like the author could've done more work to invite a wide swath of readers to enjoy this book. Alternatively, I've considered that this just isn't that book/that it's not written exactly for me. And by the end of the book, I decided that's pretty okay if that's the kind of history-of-HBO story you want to write!
The conclusion really brings home some systematic issues in the TV/streaming world and I've gotta say I learned a lot (well beyond interesting tidbits), so I bumped this back up to 4 stars in the end! Would recommend to TV afficionados.
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